THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Plenty of women know that having an IUD inserted in their uterus can be an excruciating experience, but new government guidance issued Thursday may soon make the experience less painful for many. For the first time, from the U.
S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise doctors to counsel women about pain control the procedure takes place. Experts say that guideline may prompt doctors to take that potential pain more seriously and to use painkillers more often.
In recent years, the issue has been documented on social media, with some women describing unimaginable pain during IUD placement. “Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re aware of the issue,” , an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University, told the . “Women’s pain and women’s experiences have been downplayed throughout medicine.
This is really validating that for some people, this can be a really painful experience.” Unfortunately, a 2015 found doctors tended to underestimate the pain their patients experience during the procedure. But , chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of New Mexico, told the she thought the latest CDC guidelines put a much stronger emphasis on the patient’s preferences and experience.
“I think it is a significant change,” she said. “The guidance on this topic has gone from a more provider-centered focus to a more patient-centered focus.” Why does that matter? A.